ISO 45001 Lead Auditor
Five-day course for auditors of Occupational Health and Safety Management Systems — audit techniques per ISO 19011 and ISO/IEC 17021-1, plus the PECB certification exam.
Overview
COURSE DESCRIPTION
During this five-day training course, you will acquire the knowledge and skills to plan and carry out internal and external audits of an Occupational Health and Safety Management System (OHSMS) based on ISO 45001:2018, in compliance with ISO 19011 and the ISO/IEC 17021-1 certification process.
Based on practical exercises, you will be able to master audit techniques and become competent to manage an audit program, audit team, communication with auditees, and conflict resolution. The course covers hazard verification, operational controls, worker participation, emergency preparedness, incident investigation, and continual improvement from an auditor’s perspective.
After acquiring the necessary expertise to perform this audit, you can sit for the exam and apply for a “PECB Certified ISO 45001 Lead Auditor” credential. By holding a PECB Lead Auditor Certificate, you will demonstrate that you have the capabilities and competencies to audit organizations based on best OH&S practices.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
- To acquire the expertise to perform an ISO 45001 internal audit following ISO 19011 guidelines
- To acquire the expertise to perform an ISO 45001 certification audit following ISO 19011 and the specifications of ISO/IEC 17021-1
- To acquire the necessary expertise to manage an OHSMS audit team
- To understand the operation of an ISO 45001-conformant occupational health and safety management system
- To understand the relationship between an OHSMS, hazard identification, risk assessment, and worker participation
- To improve the ability to analyze the internal and external environment of an organization and to make sound audit decisions
PREREQUISITES
PECB Certified ISO 45001 Foundation Certification or basic knowledge of ISO 45001 is recommended.
COURSE AGENDA
Day 1: Introduction to the OH&S management system (OHSMS) and ISO 45001
- Section 1: Training course objectives and structure
- Section 2: Standards and regulatory frameworks for OH&S
- Section 3: Certification process
- Section 4: Fundamental concepts and principles of occupational health and safety
- Section 5: Occupational health and safety management system (OHSMS)
Day 2: Audit principles, preparation, and initiation of an OHSMS audit
- Section 6: Fundamental audit concepts and principles
- Section 7: The impact of trends and technology in OH&S auditing
- Section 8: Evidence-based auditing
- Section 9: Risk-based auditing
- Section 10: Initiation of the audit process
- Section 11: Stage 1 audit
Day 3: On-site audit activities
- Section 12: Preparing for stage 2 audit
- Section 13: Stage 2 audit — verifying operational controls and worker participation
- Section 14: Communication during the audit
- Section 15: Audit procedures and evidence gathering
- Section 16: Creating audit test plans for OH&S processes
- Section 17: Drafting audit findings and nonconformity reports
- Section 18: Audit documentation and quality review
- Section 19: Closing of the audit
- Section 20: Evaluation of action plans by the auditor
- Section 21: Beyond the initial audit — surveillance and recertification
- Section 22: Managing an internal audit program for OHSMS
- Section 23: Closing of the training course
A two-hour “PECB Certified ISO 45001 Lead Auditor” exam.

